I’ve never understood why black men have come forward to claim their concern about the state of the country and desire to save it. Black men who not only hold top dog positions in white-owned companies but have been given shares in the name of BEE often make such claims.

Now, there is a group of black (and white) men who have expressed concern at the state of the nation and have committed to making strategic interventions to ameliorate such conditions. There’s no doubt that this is good news for social cohesion and national stability. But this neither solves the problem nor addresses its genuine causes.

Nobody should be surprised. After more than three centuries of colonialism, 50 years of racial supremacy and perpetual white economic domination, many black men have learned not only to do things for white people but to lay down their lives for them too.

In fact, black men find ultimate pleasure, satisfaction, fulfilment and success in the act of keeping white supremacy and capitalism alive. This is the reason why we are alive: to keep our white bosses happy!

Perhaps what we need now are billboards all over the country of successful black men in golden chains looming over black men, women and children in the mines, manufacturing, media, retail and all other sectors. The punch line should simply read: “Here to protect & preserve white domination”. This is the act we excel in performing, at the expense of fellow Africans. The prize is white approval and lots of money in the bank.

In a racist and capitalist society where blacks neither own the land nor share the wealth, all that black males do is to compete with one another to receive some rewards that white men can give to them. If you are a black male who questions this competition, you are likely to be identified as a “problem” and ultimately eradicated from the system.

Most black males understand this and are not likely to cause problems by raising issues or being ANC political activists at work. Their chances of receiving favours in the form of promotions, positions and company cars – from those who own and control the economy – are multiplied if they just carry on with their lives and turn a blind eye to white economic monopoly.

This is the existing socio-economic order. Those who question it have been compared to the likes of Patrice Motsepe, Cyril Ramaphosa, Saki Macozoma, Tokyo Sexwale, Herman Mashaba, Phuthuma Nhleko and a host of others with interests and shares in various conglomerates. They are said to represent the totality of black economic empowerment.

But even more, black people are expected to celebrate when a black billionaire throws R10-million to 100 black charities or donates R2-million to murdered mineworkers. And nothing should be said when those who own and control the bulk of the economy are happy to carry on with business as usual.

Anyway, I don’t know why black men are tortured by this unfulfilled desire for white approval. It makes it very difficult for black males to be true to themselves. The only thing that black men have is their integrity. I think they can win it back if they are not afraid to speak the truth about how the lack of economic power makes them weak. A man without self-respect is not worth anything. He may have money and status, but it is useless.

The preservation of white economic control is essential to keeping black men in check. Black men will always see themselves as lacking as long as they don’t have money in their back pockets. In fact, a lack of economic power will always make black men subordinates to powerful white males. As a result, black males will always need white men to feed, shelter and clothe their families.

There are predominantly black men attending the ANC’s 53rd conference in Mangaung to decide on the future of this country, including its economic policies – and it is long overdue that these black men invite white men to attend round-tables to hold serious talks about the redistribution of the wealth of this country.

This is what is urged by Stellenbosch University’s economics professor Sampie Terreblanche in his book Lost in Transformation. He says white men must be told in no uncertain terms that for black men to be free, they must control the land and all its wealth. In fact, even the ANC agrees that this is what the second phase of transition is all about. But the media always makes it look so elusive and complicated. And this is worsened by the representation of black males who, suddenly, express concern about the state of the nation and promise to do something to change the way things are.

To be taken seriously, black men must stop lying to themselves and the country. They cannot solve the problems of this country without economic power. They need to up their game and make it clear that they are tired of cleaning up the more than 300-year-old mess that has been created by the white monopoly of wealth and power. Also, they must make it clear that they are tired of emulating white men, their lifestyle and their values used to measure success. This is what is alienating black men from their own communities; turning them into criminal targets and making them the subjects of vicious dinner conversations.

If black men are serious about self-worth and need the affirmation of their people, they must stop envying white males and doing things according to the capitalist gospel. Black men were not born to be protectors of white wealth but kings in their ancestral land. It is time that they act like kings in Africa. And for that, they need to control the economy.

@Tofolux, why are you putting Lynda down for quoting a black American writer when you are always quoting Fanon to make your point? Fanon was a black Frenchman and not African as you might think. The black writers in Africa were influenced by people like Du Bois whom was a pioneer in sociology. Biko went around talking about the black consciousness movement in SA but, he was quoting from the work of Du Bois. If you are so against Lynda using an American writer to make her point, why are you using America technology to make your point?

ntozakhona

Ja, Neh? I cannot think of a single successful revolution which did not have women as its mainstay, Yes, in most men were its voices and faces but women were always at the battle front playing all sorts of roles.

The debate about some imagined God ordained role for men is taking us backwards and entangles us in the colonial trap of chauvinism and sexism. There is of course is a serious problem of inequality in our country and yes we have aboKleva ( clever blacks) who think success means being white in your ways and posting arguments that will not cause offence to the colonial master.These have been with us since the days of Jabavu and Galela and through to the days of Mangope and Matanzima. We do not need to beat ourselves because of such deviants no matter how loud and flambouyant they may be in their self-hatred.

“‘God forbid that our minds become the property of someone else”‘ wrote founding ANC Secretary General Thekisho Plaatje about ”clever blacks”.

Kreef

Sandile I have only one word for you and anyone who thinks like you ……”Losers”.

Alois

It is overwhelming that the African psyche, in and out of Africa, has been so imprinted by the European esthetic that all too many persons of color, as pointed out in this well stated and timely exposition, take great pride in sustaining anything European. And that means even sustaining the color codes passed on by Europeans. You’ll hear variously African Americans, for example, pointing out with great pride to being “part Indian.” To what end is this a validation of worth only God Himself knows! In academia, the poor man/woman of color is sublimely happy in being nominated and “accepted” as a “Rhodes Scholar.” I would be equally appalled to find any person of Jewish heritage “honored” to accept the Joseph Goebbels Award for Academic Excellence. The list is long. And I am discouraged to have been shown by scholars that it took England some 300 years to move away from the afterglow of the Norman Conquest of 1066. In the United States, those same scholars set forth that Thomas Jefferson himself stated it would take some 200 years for the US to move past the effects of slavery. Sadly enough, a recent report shows some 31 percent of nonblack America hold negative opinions of African Americans. The problems are deep and wide. So this article sums up a very critical look that the African and those in Diaspora need to examine. In Africa only an Afrocentric social, political, and economic direction will point us back in the right direction.

Jannie Swem

Your neo-african marxist rhetoric will get you nowhere. Stop blaming white people and capitalism for all your ills.
white and black? Get the chip off your shoulder, I work for a boss, and so do many black males, its not about “Pleasing your white masters” its about the rands and cents in your pocket. Who cares where it comes from when you want the nice car and the house etc.

Ashley Reid

Calling for anyone to be kings is utter nonsense. It just shows how unbalanced your opinion is and that you can’t be trusted. All people are equal and aspiring to be a King is just arrogance. We need to support each other as equals and not try to be better than others. There can only be one king. Your article does not even consider women!?!?

Sterling Ferguson

@Ntozakhona, the only revolution in the world was in science and both genders took part in this revolution. Africa has to look for science to solve their problems and not the Mugabe or Zuma. The AU should be setting up labs all over Africa to do scientific research to solve problems in Africa. Science is what made it possible for the Europeans countries to go out and conquered the world. Voodoo and ancestor worshiping are not moving Africa forward so, these two have to be dealt with before there can be a revolution in Africa.

Sterling Ferguson

@Alois, many blacks in the US are mixed with Native Americans and this is nothing to be ashamed about. Afrocentric means nothing in Africa unless these people embrace science and technology like the Europeans did to advance themselves. The Asians are now doing the same thing and look how fast they are moving forward, by embracing science. Africans are depending too much on voodoo and ancestor worship to solve their problems. One never hears the ANC led government talks about putting money in the budget for R and D. All of the African leaders do is crying all the time about the West and when there is a famine or sickness breakout in Africa, they look to the west to solve the problems.

ntozakhona

Ashley Reid in the South African idiom King refers to one who is master of own fate, one not a subject of others. It is high time colonials and their clever blacks learn how South Africans use language.

Tofolux

@Lynda, your reply reinforces the point I made. In mis-using Du Bois, it exposed the complete lack of conceptual thinking around Du Bois’s ideology. But let me say, I am definitely not a ”right-thinking” person and re-affirm my leftist tendencies by saying that the inferiority complex suffered by some amongst us is the consequence of the superiority complex suffered by whites in particular. eg The perpetrator and the victim. Also lest you forget, the process of decolonisation will not take a mere 18years especially when it took 350 and longer years to colonise the minds of those who live on this continent. To illustrate this, Marcus Garvey made the point that “black is beautiful” to re-affirm to blacks in general but Africans in particular that we definitely do not want to be ”white”.

http://yahoo.com Joseph

Well stated and defined Sandile. For too long black men have shown a weakness to assimilate into white supremacy in a destructive self-hatred. They can be bought and sold. They will lay with anything and anyone in order achieve white status. They are blind to the disgrace of their manhood, integrity and endearing experience in being a black man of pride and great character. Being black is an experience not a condition.

Paul-Jay

Now that black rule the country, in fact, 18 years of self determination and a whole load of affirmative action and government help ons would imagine that black would stop pointing fingers at whites for their own shortfalls. Build your own businesses man! You dont need whites anymore! Why not get yourselves going man? If you are capable start showing it! For goodness sakes, you rule the country and have all the opportunities now! Come guys, just show the world what youre made off and stop always playing the blame game!

Sterling Ferguson

@Tofolix, you didn’t accuse Lynda of misusing DuBois, you asked the question why was she using an American writer to make her point. After Lynda calls you out on your comment, you came back with something that’s totally different.

Max

@Tolofux When you say “the inferiority complex suffered by some amongst us is the consequence of the superiority complex suffered by whites in particular”, do you mean Europeans in general and whites in particular or do you mean whites in general and Afrikaners in particular? Or is it whites in general and white capitalists in particular?

ntozakhona

Belief and practices associated with it are not neccessarily anti-sciene Sterling. There are those who claim not to venerate anscestors but have littered the streets of our country with crosses. It is as if a cross at a place where a fatal accident happened will reduce reckless and stupid driving.

Africans do not worrship ancestors, they have worshipped one God since the beginning of time when colonials ( in their countries of origin) were kneeling before statues they created. Africans regard ancestors as a link with the one God as they have joined him. In Setswana they are called badimo – meaning baModimo, those of God.

The American revolution was not a result of science nor was the the Russian revolution. Mao Zedung and the communist inpired a revolution in what had become backward country and a doormat of Japan and Britain amongst others. Maybe you need to read more and you will realise there is more to knowledge than dinner party fantasies of the chattering classes.

I have responded briefly to your misreading or rumour repetition of what Karl Marx viewed history and change in TO Molefe’s THE REVOLUTION HAS BEEN TWEETED blog, it might illuminate you though prejudice seems to have blinded you like it did he Boeremag only that you write in a more polished English.

Sterling Ferguson

@Tofolux, I hope you have a happy Kwanzaa and may you have a healthy one.

@Beddy, I hope you have a happy Kwanzaa and a healthy one.

@Ntozakhona, I hope you have a happy Kwanzaa and a healthy one.

Ntozakhona, in case you don’t know what Kwanzaa means, this is the real African holiday and not the commercial holiday that was forced down your throat.

Sterling Ferguson

@Sandile, I forgot to put you on the list for a happy Kwanzaa holiday.

http://paulwhelanwriting.blogspot.com Paul Whelan

There is an unconscious irony in the last line here. Kings, along with their supporters, of course oppressed everyone else – the colour of subjects was immaterial.

Mr Memela’s billboard would be more honest and also useful if it carried the message: “Here to protect and preserve No. 1. Wise up. Follow my example.”

Judith

Mr Memela would be more truthful if he was honest about his misogyny

Lucas Molebale

This is the bitter truth Sandile, black males need to do a serious soul searching and introspection.

ntozakhona

Sterling there yuo again, assuming that you know me more that I do. African-Americans have decided to celebrate kwanza to coincide with the Gregorian calender period of festivities,

In South Africa it is called kotulo – loosely translated it may also mean harvest time. That of course is a time of festivals in Africa, when we reap what we have planted not what others did under our ”supervision”.

Westerners in general, or North Americans or Europeans in particular?
Europeans in general, or Serbs or Italians, or Brits in particular?
Brits in general, or Yorkshiremen or Lancastrians or Scots in particular?
Scots in general or Glaswegians or Aberdonians or Edinburghians in particular?
Glaswegians in general, or McLeods, Campbells or McDonalds in particular?

Thank for deconstructing this absurd racist and biniary thinking of South Africans in general and certain bloggers in particular……

http://paulwhelanwriting.blogspot.com Paul Whelan

@ntozakhona – Yes, but as the lawyers say, including but not limited to European kings: you may count in also Middle East kings, Mesoamerican kings, Egyptian Pharaohs, numberless Asian raja(h)s and princes, African kings and clan chiefs, Byzantine emperors, Turkish sultans, Chinese emperors, secretary generals of the Party in one-party states, lifetime presidents … just about any name mon-archs have wielded power under the whole world over down the ages.

ntozakhona

Noob and Max if you do not understand it does not harm to ask or do some research. Your pathetic attempts to ridicule the analytical assertion “Blacks in general and Africans in particular” exposes your ignorance and make you sound ridiculously childish.

The assertion is used to specify parts of our population exposed to apartheid degradation and extent of their exposure to such degradation. It is in revolutionary praxis tactical to do so as it assists revolutionaries to understand what issues are immediately relevant to what sectors of society, Blacks ( Indians,couloureds and Africans) are exposed to different levels of apartheid and colonial humiliation. All suffer but Africans in particular have been and are targets of the evil pervading our society.

ntozakhona

Max and Noob I refer you to ANC Strategy and Tactics document of 1969, should you find anything difficult to understand, I am at your service.

Phil

Sandile, a mojority of all the comments here are i a lower level of conscious understanding to what you are saying. joust igore them bhut’. your one of the few living analyst ive ever read with confidence. you are king. keep reminding us of the normative ‘new africans’ we need to be.

Phil

never mind my un unchecked spelings lol. thanks njoy

Noob

Ntozakhona, we are simply talking at cross purposes here. It is this definition of Africans in particular which specifically excludes non black people that is problematic and quite frankly, offensive. It’s also patently racist .
perhaps in 2013 we may look beyond the “you and your ilk” mentality and accept that as people we are all individuals from diverse backgrounds and circumstances with the same basic human rights.
As for an historical ANC policy document, well, I would argue it has been trumped by a far more you to a more current and relevant non partisan document called the bill of rights, enshrined in our constitution.
I generally wish all south Africans and everyone in particular a great 2013.
.

Sterling Ferguson

@Ntozakhona, the US never had a revolution and this was a myth about how the US set up a democracy. When the US became independent from England over half of their population were in chains. The new government never abolished slavery until over a hundred years later. The machine age led to the decline in the need for slaves. The people that ruled France before the revolution were the same people ruling France after the revolution. Japan had a revolution based on science in the 19th century that radically change the country. So, once again, if Africa doesn’t embrace science and technology, there will not be any revolution. The West was able to produce a surplus of goods because of science and not slogans.

JJ

So, for example: Working for a JSE listed company, after you studied economics at university and are now earning a good salary – is serving the white man.

How? Is it because of the JSE? A white man’s invention. Is it because you studied? Studied economics? Or attended university? All things introduced by white men. Are you serving white men because you are earning a salary in a currency, concept introduced by white men?

So you are belittling and tearing down their hard work and effort, because they are not making a success of their lives, but serving the “white men”? They are not working towards an even better future for their children; they are just slaves to the “capitalist gospel” of work in return for remuneration.

Are you saying every black man working in SA: What you are doing is not good enough? Your efforts are not worthy? To provide for your family is something shameful, because they do not see they are just “serving” white men.

Nothing they accomplish is worthy of respect or admiration until “they own” absolutely everything? Every business, every bank, every car and mine and house?

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission, but you are a clear example of why black men feel insecure. You spell it out – they are such a disappointment in your eyes
.
PS: You cannot demand self-worth. Confidence is not inherited. It is build over time and requires effort. No claim of kingship over the economy is going to give you that which you…

Sandile memela

@ JJ It is either you get it or you don’t. And clearly, You don’t !! Some of the concepts take time to grasp, depending on how sharp you are.
Give it time. You are raising relevant points but the penny has yet to drop.

JJ

You are right, the penny is not dropping.

You advocate for ownership of economic power? What is your definition of economic power? There is no universal definition for the term – and thus the use of the word can be really confusing to me so clearly not endowed with utter genius.

“they must make it clear that they are tired of emulating white men, their lifestyle and their values used to measure success”

Once again, please explain to me then, in a language for the slow to grasp blunt reviewer, what do you see as the black man’s measure of success. It is difficult to grasp why you say black men are failing when you give no clear indication of black success, except to be the owners of economic power….

My limited mental capacity might be hampering a genuine attempt to understand once again, so please help out. Are you saying black men are failing just because they are participating in the capitalist system? We should be a nation “structured upon common ownership of the means of production, as well as a social, political and economic ideology”?

So this whole time you were advocating a “socialist state”? Why don’t you just say it.

If so, please explain to me then, which “socialist state” we should aim to adopt? Marxist, Leninist, Marxist-Leninist or another variant of the ideology.

Do you include democracy in your ideology, or just communism?

Speak in plain English sir, so that I may understand.

70119

Please get your facts straight about America. VERY few AA people are part Indian (Native American). However, I am amazed to hear how many people say growing up that ‘my grandmother was an Indian’ with the greatest pride. Racism is rampant in America though there are many AA people that do nothing but perpetuate the stereotypes of being on welfare, food stamps, etc. It will take South Africa a century or more to cleanse the sins of the past, but walking around with a chip on your shoulder will only make the white man marginalize you even more.

Solar

@Mr. Memela

Sir,
I am a young, white male, and despite my age, I suspect that I may have a better understanding of the world than you.

To deny the presence of racism in modern society would be foolish – it dates back to early civilization. In fact, you are a member of the sapien species; descendants of the “cro-magnon” who are responsible for the omnicide of the neanderthal, for no reason other than racial dominance. We were once inherently racist, and obviously still hold that tendency. If you need proof of this tendency, you need look no further than your own disposition.

Your ideas are outdated; though, I imagine this is because you speak from the spirit of your generation. It sounds as though you wish to see the black man take the system that has been built (by white men, as if that matters). The issue is not with the skin color of the men who built the corrupt system, but the inherent corruption of the system itself. Would feel better seeing an African dominated government oppressing your country? I imagine it’d be a tough pill to swallow recognizing that the oppression throughout the world has more to do with preservation of the dominance of the economic elite, regardless of race.

Solar

Cont.

Perhaps you have hope for an alternative government that would utilize the resources of South Africa for the betterment of the true natives. If you believe that a government of this world is allowed to exist without adhering to a strict code of economic compliance, look to Venezuela, Panama, or Cuba; and to the middle east; Iraq, Afghanistan and S.A. especially, and the governance of their own resources that the nations elite have allotted them.

I don’t mean to be abrasive if it seems I am, but racism oft wears the veil of righteousness and sings songs of injustice. I’m an artist, born to a single mother, raised on welfare, and represented all of the .2% of Caucasian students at my school. I now trade my art for food and services, and volunteer my time within the community, taking care of my peer group: the lower class. I have not a penny to my name, nor do I pay taxes, or even hold documentation of citizenship for the country in which I was born and raised. Why? Because I refuse to support a government which subsidizes pharmaceuticals, entertainment, and carcinogen laden foods to keep it’s people too sedated, distracted, and fat to hold it’s government liable for the crimes against humanity it boldly commits on the world’s stage, backed by a military budget just exceeding the rest of the world combined.

Solar

Cont.

Perhaps you pay taxes.

Maybe you work in the shackles of submission you mentioned.

You may even hold a small share of the debt the is destroying your beloved country and it’s people’s livelihood.

If so, I imagine it’s because, in your eyes, the crimes of your government and the corporate interests that were built upon it’s back are not severe enough for you to stop supporting it; and make no mistake, compliance with a system is the essence of supporting it, whether you believe in it or not. If you wish to inspire change in your fellow countryman, then be an example for them. Revolution is, after all, internal.

And rethink your enemy image, because if this notion of white economic dominance exists, I need to take another look into what color I am.